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Big Arm is located on Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in the western United States. Twenty-eight miles long and 15 miles wide, Flathead Lake is renowned for its fishing.
Located on the lake's Big Arm Bay, its long pebble beach is popular with sunbathers and swimmers. Camping under a stand of mature ponderosa pine and juniper is a major attraction. The hiking trail provides excellent vistas of surrounding mountain ranges and high peaks with abundant watchable wildlife opportunities. Other opportunities include: fishing for lake trout, board sailing, boating, swimming, camping, picnicking, bicycling, hiking the 2.5 mile trail, wildlife viewing, scuba diving, and water-skiing.
This site is 2,953 feet in elevation and covers 240 acres. The campground has 41 campsites, including one wheelchair accessible site; one group campsite; and three yurts. Maximum RV/trailer length is 40 feet. Bear resistant storage lockers are available.
Yurts offer the latest in circular camping comfort. The Mission yurt is 20’ in diameter, Salish and Swan are 16’ in diameter, and the Swan yurt is ADA accessible. All yurts have furniture, electrical outlets, lights, and electric heat. Yurt sites includes a picnic table and a fire pit for cooking.
A tribal fishing license is needed for fishing at this park. Campers may stay only 14 days during a 30-day period. Pets are required to be on leashes.
Big Arm is a popular jumping-off point to Wild Horse Island, a 2,163-acre island in Flathead Lake State Park, located off the west shore of the lake. The island is home to bald eagles, bighorn sheep, yellow-pine chipmunks, and wild horses.
Blue Bay Campground, Lodge Complex and Day Use Area is a commercial business owned and operated by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes and managed by the Wildland Recreation Program and Blue Bay Campground staff. We strive to provide a comfortable, healthy and safe environment for all guests to enjoy the scenic beauty and recreational opportunities Flathead Lake and the surrounding area offer. Fees collected help provide only a portion of the total costs needed for personnel staffing, grounds operation and maintenance and improvements.
$10 - $90 / night
The Holland Lake Campground and Group Site are located on the shores of Holland Lake in the Swan Valley of northwest Montana. Holland Lake Campground is a great place to enjoy the Flathead National Forest. It offers clean campsites with great lake access and ample opportunities for hiking on the scenic Holland Falls National Recreation Trail. Holland Lake Campground has 38 rentable sites, 24 of which are reservable and 14 for walk-up visitors. The stay limit is 16 consecutive days in the regular camp sites and 10 days in the group site.
The trailhead for the popular and easy Holland Falls National Recreation Trail is near the campground. The 1.6-mile trail climbs 750 feet, following the shoreline of Holland Lake to the base of Holland Falls waterfall. Holland Lake provides visitors with plenty of access to water-related recreation. Boating is popular on the lake, as well as water skiing and fishing. Anglers can look forward to catching a variety of trout and Kokanee salmon. Paddleboards, Kayaks and Canoes are available for rent for $10/hr., $25/4 hrs. or $40/8hrs.
At an elevation of 4,050 feet, the campground sits among Tamarack, Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir trees. There are some sites close to the 416-acre lake; others are further back or higher on the bank. A variety of wildlife, including grizzly and black bear, make their home in the area.
The campground is 25 miles north of the charming town of Seeley Lake.
For facility specific information, please call (406) 210-8199.
Please cancel 4 days prior to first day of reservation. For day of arrival cancellations please call Leona at 406- 210-8199 so we can get the information to the Campground Host. All Considerations will be made after your original reservation dates have passed. *No shows have no chance of a refund.
$20 / night
This recreation area is located near the village of Swan Lake at the north end of the scenic Swan Valley in northwest Montana. The campground consists of two loops. Ponderosa Loop offers open, large sites with plenty of space, while sites at Birch Loop are shaded and more clustered together. There is also a reservable group site which accomodates up to 100 people. Here, we have 38 rentable sites. 24 sites are reservable and 14 sites are for our walk-up visitors. The stay limit is 16 consecutive days.
Campers and day-use visitors have access to a boat ramp and a beach. Both power and non-motorized boating is permitted. This campground also offers Kayak, Paddleboard and Canoe rentals and firewood for sale.Anglers can fish for several kinds of trout as well as Kokanee salmon and Northern Pike. Bike lanes wind throughout the campground.
In the heart of the Rocky Mountains lies the 2.4 million acre Flathead National Forest. Home to lynx, grizzly bear, and bull trout, with numerous lakes, streams and rivers to enjoy, the forest is the premiere destination for visitors looking to experience natural landscapes of the American West. Swan Lake is surrounded by dense conifer forest and the craggy, snow-covered peaks of the Swan Mountain Range.
For facility specific information, please call (406) 210-8199.
Glacier National Park is within an hour drive. About a mile from the campground is the Swan River National Wildlife Refuge, with a wildlife and bird observation area.
Please cancel 4 days prior. For day of arrival cancellations please call Leona at 406- 210-8199 so we can get the information to the Campground Host. All Considerations will be made after your original reservation dates have passed. *No shows have no chance of a refund.
$20 / night
Yellow Bay-Flathead Lake State Park has 5 tent campsites that are first-come, first-serve.
$9 - $28 / night
We are primarily an RV Park, we do take a few tents. 37 sites on our property with full hookups. there are 28 pull-thrus and 9 back-ins. Our sites are all graveled and flat. Showers,restrooms, and a laundry mat is available also.
$63 - $68 / night
Guide
Pretty campground. Saw lots of deer running around. Pit toilets were clean and sites were nice. Enjoyed having a fire and it was free in the off season.
Ranger
Private campground. Level sites, stayed in #6 right by office. Sites fairly close together. Nice pet walk area. Showers clean. Full hookups. Solid, clean, well kept place to stay.
Ranger
The campsites are big and spacious. Even though the sites are open, they still feel private thanks to the natural layout and surrounding trees. The lake is incredibly clear and beautiful. One of the highlights of our stay was the stunning sunrise over the water—waking up to those colors reflecting off the lake was absolutely breathtaking. There was only a few campers when we were there. Warning: there are bears in the area. We didn't see any, but saw some evidence of them.
Guide
We picked this park for convenience while having travel trailer brake issues. Came at close of season, and thankful for a later evening check in. A little disconnect to obtain a bathroom Code. Fortunately we saw camp hosts walking dogs to gain access. Dog friendly, including nice gated area for off leash.
GuideGreat camping spot. We camped over on a Friday night at the end of September. Free because it was out of the normal season, but because it was the last sliver of summer, it definitely filled up. However, they only had the first loop open (group and second loop of sites were closed). Being out of normal season, trash was all locked up but not a big deal.
Lake was spectacular and beautiful, would recommend!
Guide
Road to this location was closed. A closed gate that looks private prevented access.
Scout
We arrived late and only stayed one night but this place is very well run and has everything we needed. Convenient and a nice place to stay. Long term or passing through it’s a good choice for the Missoula area.
ScoutTheir customer service is the best! They made a three day extension over Labor Day weekend happen! This place is also beautiful and clean.
Scout
So gorgeous! Tent camped along the river! Very spaced out campsites, nice for lots of privacy and quiet! Signs to be aware of bear country but took precautions. Rock fire pits at each site. Super easy for quick stop road tripping (0.5 miles off main road)! Stayed in early September on a road trip to Glacier, was able to find our site decently well in the dark! Verizon cell service 3-4 bars! Loved it!
The west is the only safe way to enter onto the road to the campsites. On the map, it looks like you can enter/exit either way from 135… but the east side of the road to get back onto 135 is impossible… so we just had to turn around and exit the same way we came in (from the west).
Guide
Small 5 site campground. Primitive. A couple large potholes in campground road. Only sites 4 and 5 can accommodate larger campers as the road is fairly narrow to allow turning into sites.
Guide
This campsite was very accommodating for our rig (40ft long x 13.5ft tall) and the road in wasn’t too bad either. Plenty of space for lots of rigs and turning around.
Pros:
Cons:
Scout
Needed just a fast stop for the night, in a TT, after getting repairs.
Lots of noise, loud music, loud motors, cars in and out that obviously didn’t stay there off of the back of camp, and just loud racket until late at night.
Just a basic setup, but good shade. Connections were appropriate, pull in sites accommodated a standard pickup and 29 ft TT.
Traveler
Old lady was sweet to us, I saw the reviews about her being not so sweet but she was nice and got us in last minute. The gentleman brought us a whole tractor full of wood and was nice as well. Trees were down like other reviews stated, they mentioned they had a massive storm. Not something I feel they should be judged for, they were concerned about my kids and asked them to keep away from the left side because of that.
TravelerDispersed camping at the "Peninsula" Recreation Area. 6 day stay limit according to the sign. No potable water. Stone fire rings throughout.
We stayed mid week during August. Stayed in a medium sized site on the river. Small steep slope to the water.
Pros:
Plenty of space, both large and small sites.
Room for a 30' in a couple of the sites.
3 bars Tmobile.
Some sites on the water with a short steep slope down.
12 miles to gas station.
Beautiful views.
Cons: No pit toilets (edit: another camper said they are at the end of the campground) No potable water. Road/train noise. POISON IVY (found it... found all of it)
Overall we loved this spot. Being ok the water in a mostly private setting with such amazing views is our goal. Little bit of road noise but hardly noticeable over the wind in the trees.
Sites were clean but well used, so thank you to all the campers that took care of this place!
TravelerI was alone while camping, parked my car at the first fire pit I saw open and it was perfect. Absolutely beautiful river, beautiful spot. Great for fishing, swimming, etc.
GuideDrove in on a Wednesday and found a site right on the water. A number of spots were occupied with campers/tents with no one there. Really peaceful spot in my experience and an unbeatable view. Rented SUPs from in town to enjoy on the reservoir.
Pit toilet, well maintained, and walkable from all spots in the area.
Guide
Reserved this deamy site right on the water. Tent 1 is closest to parking but has the most traffic going by to the other sites.
Pit toilet nearby and a quick drive to flushable toilets. Showers available with tokens from the camphost ($3 for 6 minutes) but camphost weren't around when I was looking so no personal experience here.
Guide
Got a walk in site when I showed up in the afternoon. All that was left was an RV site and they let me tent there. Even though I wasn't on the water, still got a water view! Pit toilet bathroom was close by, and sometimes the smell wafted over when the wind changed.
SUP, kayak rentals on water, reasonably priced. The beach was rocky and perfect!
In the morning, I spotted a black bear on a hill. Follow bear protocol well.
Guide
Do not follow maps directions to this spot. Click the one a little south east next to the river titled “Dispersed Site - Lolo National Forest Recreation Area”. This is the right location. Good spot.
GuideTurn onto the road, once you reach end of that road, there’s more spots to the left. If you drive far enough you’ll find pit toilets. We had good service on Verizon and T-Mobile to work. River is beautiful. Would definitely come back
Scout
Very nice campground. Rod, caretaker, is the best. We had a wonderful 3 days camping.
Scout
The further you drive on the road the closer you can get to the river! There are some pit toilets too! Absolutely beautiful!
Scout
The view was unbelievably beautiful, our dog had lots of room to run and other dogs to play with. The site was comfortable and the Hosts were so very KIND!
Guide
Nice spot by the river
GuideSolid place for camping. They have a few spots at the end of the road, and few places to pull off on the road. There's also a bear box at the end of the road.
Ranger
This was a great stay right on the river with night sites and a vault toilet. Only issues I had was the train across the river runs throughout the night and it sounds like it’s coming right through your tent
TravelerPulled off, quickly found decent dispersed site. A bit buggy, no mosquitoes though. Great night sleep until OHVers came screaming through early
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Polson, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Polson, MT is Big Arm State Unit — Flathead Lake State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 21 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 117 dog-friendly camping locations near Polson, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
